fashion for faith in four colors: 1940s
Showing posts with label 1940s. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 1940s. Show all posts

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

Comic Con Outfits ~ Day Four Red Gingham

Gingham always seems to have a bit of a retro feel to me, no matter what you do with it. It says homey country kitchen, apple pie, picnics.


Oh what a beautiful morning,
Oh what a beautiful day,
I've got a wonderful feeling,
Gingham is coming my way.

A hem, sorry, getting a little carried away there. Where was I? Oh yes, gingham. A member of the check family, I believe. Most often seen in black and white, red and white, or blue and white.


 It took me a long time to come around to gingham. Like pink it felt to girly and sweet to me. It just seems very very difficult to make gingham edgy.


But I cam around to gingham when I spotted this adorable tennis dress in a local vintage shop. It was muslin and looked very cool and light, and something that woudl pair with flats. All top concerns for my wardrobe and upcoming Comic Con.


 It was labeled 1970s but I think it might be more late 1960s. Here's a range of vintage red and white gingham from 1940 ~ 1970.

 1940s; 1950s Red & White Gingham Summer Dress

 1960's mod red & white gingham dress; 1970s gingham summer dress mod drop waist box pleats

Mine would seem to slide in at late 1960s but I suppose it could be 1970s.


It's actually meant to be tighter and shorter on someone a bit larger than me, but I liked it so much as a more 1920's loose feel (and this way it fit the Rack). I walked away from it the first time and then went back after contemplating it for a couple weeks, luckily it was still waiting for me.


I wore it with cream accessories and cream flats. I made a silly little hat out of a knitted pettit four that a reader gave to me in Portland. (More on that in a separate DIY blog to come.)


As I said, gingham as been around forever. Here's a little retrospective . . .

Before the turn of the century:


 1840-1845  The Metropolitan Museum of Art

The 1930s


The 1940s







The 1950s







The 1960s 




And some modern takes on gingham. 

 Some even manage to be almost not retro.





Right is a pink gingham from Rusty Zipper.



 Left also from Rusty Zipper.



 Words cannot describe how much I want this outfit.


Next up, silly DIY hat. I leave you with self much appreciating a lovely cup of tea at Comic Con mid day. Small pleasures make all the difference.


Retro Rack is also on facebook where I post additional images and fashion thoughts.

Thursday, July 19, 2012

Comic Con Outfits ~ Day One Blue & White

So, in case you hadn't guessed, Fashionable Reader, I enjoy standing out visually, but in a classy way, or course. Or as classy as I can possibly manage.  *insert snorting noise here*


Under circumstances such as San Diego Comic Con standing out is a challenge. There are amazing cospay ladies everywhere, from comic book characters to steampunk to cross overs between the two. There are also lost of shorts and logo t-shirts, wings and hats, and robotic attachments.


So what did I decide to do in order to be unique? Well, frankly, just dress the way I normally do. With the exception of Saturday day, when I wore a cool adaptation of my old favorite spoon steampunk outfit, I mostly just chose nice bright ladylike dresses.


I've been hunting down, expanding, and investing in some day dresses in light packable fabrics. And a good thing too, day dresses look much better with flats and we've already discussed that crisis. On Thursday I wore my new blue and cream dress, paired with cream accessories.


I wore it with the matched jacket, day hat and low key pearls for daytime.


And switched the jacket out for an evening muff, the hat for a flowered hairband, the purse for a clutch, and the daytime pearls for an evening set for that night.


I love blue & cream (or blue & white) together. It's an elegant color combination and I just don't have enough of it in my wardrobe. I always think of Wedgwood china and the like when I see it, which reminds me of tea, which is no bad thing.


This outfit packs beautifully. As ever, here are some other takes on this classic combo for your perusal, fashionable reader. Let us start with some great retro options.

 Dita-von-teese-westwood-louboutin; Dior 2011

 Monique-Lhuillier; Louise-Roe-Rebecca-Taylor

 stella_mccartney_resort

Here are links to a few up for purchase.

With a peplum and belt, so cute.






How about a few accessories?


Cornelia James blue leather driving gloves at corneliajames.com

For a modern take on this look I really love adding a touch of red. It remains ladylike but has a bit of an edge. Black tights can also work well, or simply choosing a dress that is a little more modern.





How about some lovely vintage versions?

 1957 dior; 1955 Hubert de Givenchy, 1955  The Metropolitan Museum of Art

 1950s blue & white dress by denise
 1950's Blue & White Printed nylon chiffon vintage party dress John Selby
 1940's White Blue Floral Swing Dress; 1930

And how about something for the characters to wear?

For Lord Akeldama . . .

1740 Waistcoat The Los Angeles County Museum of Art

For Monique in the Finishing School series . . .

1860 Wedding dress Metropolitan Museum of Art

For Alexia and Ivy in the Parasol Protectorate series . . .

1870 A blue dress circa from La Mode Illustree

For Ivy after Timeless . . .


And for Primrose in the Parasol Protectorate Abroad series . . .

1890's Blue Dress with Lace

Next up, another day dress at Comic Con! (You know you want one.) Until then I leave you with myself, manga Alexia, and a reader.



Retro Rack is also on facebook where I post additional images and fashion thoughts.